Rheostat.



Patented Jan. 29, 1901.

No. es7,|35.

G. F. MARTIN.

R H E 0 S T A T.

(Application filed June 6, 1900.)

(No ma i.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFEIcE.

GEORGE F. MARTIN, OF OORYDON, INDIANA.

RH EO STAT.

:SEEiJIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,135, dated January 29, 1901.

Application filed June 5, 1900. Serial Nol9,l31. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. MARTIN, of Corydon, in the county of Harrison and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rheostats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention contemplates certain new and usefulimprovements in rheostats.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means for regulating the resistance ateither pole as exercised by Leyden jars. This regulation of the resistance I accomplish by controlling the extent to which the outer coating extends over or incloses part of the jar. This coating may be adjusted and held at any desired point, according to the resistance itis desired to obtain at either pole. By regulating the resistance I control the frequency of the discharge, the volume thereof, and the pressure or tension at the pole.

A further object is to provide means for indicating the extent to which the outer coating extends over or incloses the inner coating.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure l is a view showing my rheostat, one half in vertical section and the other half in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan and horizontal sectional view, the latter being on line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a base upon which are mounted two Leyden jars 1 and 2. As each is the counterpart of the other, a description of one will apply to both. Each jar in its entirety embraces a rubber cylinder 3, having a top 4, of like material, and aglass jar 5,set down in said cylinder, wherein it is held by its annular flange 6. The diameter of this jar is decreased from the shoulder 7 to its lower end. The inner coating of the jar extends over this decreased diameter-thatis, from the shoulder 7. The outer coating, which may also extend from the bottom of jar 5 to shoulder 7, is adjustable, and hence may be held at any desired point. It is shown in the form of acylinder 8, open at its top and designed to surround the lower end of the jar. It may be raised and lowered, according to the resistance desired by the operator, by any suitable means. That shown comprehends a horizontal arm 9, engaging the bottom of the cylinder 8 and extended outwardly through a slot 10 in cylinder 3. At its outer end it is secured to a rack-bar 12, movable vertically on a guide 13 by means of a pinion 14 on a shaft 15, the hand-wheel 16 of which may be easily turned by the operator. Also carried by the cylinder 8, forming the outer coating, is the pointer 1'7, which is also projected through a slot in cylinder 3 and is movable over an indicatorscale 18. As the volume of discharge of a Leyden jardepends upon the extent of coating and the thickness of glass, the rheostatjars are constructed with reference to a standard jar. The extent of coating and thickness of glass of the standard jaris arbitrarily fixed, and such thickness represents the combined thickness of glass jars of the rheostat. The volume of discharge of such a jar is the unit of measure of volume of current. The affixed scale is designed to indicate the numher of standard jars to be read as so many units of measu re of volu me at each discharge.

Passing centrally through a depending hard-rubber sleeve 19, supported by top 4, is a stalk 20 of knob 21, a chain 22, secured to the inner end of the stalk, being designed to contact with the inner coating. The stalk may be raised or lowered for the convenience of any static-machine poles.

The outer coatings of the two jars may be connected or disconnected by chains B and O, secured to posts d d, carrying keys d which may be inserted in openings of a plate 61 The advantages of myinvention are apparent to those skilled in the art.

While changes may be made within the scope of the invention as outlined in the claims following, it will be understood that the main and essential feature of my invention is to regulate the resistance by control ling the extent of the covering of the jar by the outer coating and that this may be secured by adjusting one of these elements in relation to the other.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a rheostat, a 'Leyden jar, an outer coating therefor separate therefrom, and means for adjusting one of said elements in relation to the other for regulating the resistance.

2. In a rheostat, a Leyden jar having its outer coating adjustable in relation thereto.

3. In a rheostat, a Leyden jar having an adjustable outer coating, and means engaging said outer coating for effecting the adjustment thereof in relation to the jar.

4. In a rheostat, a Leyden jar having an adjustable outer coating, a cylinder inclosing the jar and outer coating, and adjusting means, outside of the cylinder, connected to the said coating for regulating the resistance by adjusting said outer coating in relation to the jar, substantially as set forth.

5. I11 a rheostat, a Leyden jar having an adjustable outer coating, a cylinder inclosing the jar and outer coating, and having a slot therein, an arm secured to said outer coating and extended through said slot, and means connected to said arm for adjusting said outer coating, substantially as set forth.

6. In a rheostat, a Leyden jar having an adjustable outer coating, a cylinder inclosing the jar and outer coating and having a slot therein, an arm secured to said outer coating and extended through said slot, a rackbar to which said arm is secured, and a pinion meshing With said raclvbar, substantially as set forth.

7. In a rheostat, aLeyden jar,an outercoating therefor separate therefrom, means for adjusting one of said elements in relation to the other for regulating the resistance,a scale, and a pointer secured to one of said elements, substantially as set forth.

8. In a rheostat, a Leyden jar having an adjustable outer coating, a cylinder inclosing the jar havinga slot therein,a scale in said cyl' inder adjacent to said slot, a pointer carried by said outer coating extended through said slot and projecting over said scale, and means for adjusting said outer coating,substantially as set forth.

9. A rheostat comprising a base, a plurality of Leydeu jars mounted thereon,said jars having adjustable outer coatings, posts adjacent each jar, chains connected thereto, keys on said chains, and metallic plates on said base having openings for said keys, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE F. MARTIN.

Witnesses JOHN E. BICCLAREN, SAIN PFRUNNOX. 

